Device for lifting invalids



May 27, 1930. $CHE|DEGGER 1,760,443

DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS Filed Aug. 14, 1929 INVENTOR, Fred 5071a z'dyyer,

M ATTOR/VEK Patented May 27, 1930 warren s'ra'rss rarest orrice FRED. SCI-IEIDEGGER, OF MONROE, WISCONSIN DEVICE non LIFTING Invamns Application filed August 14 being moved or lifted.

The device comprises, in combination, a pair of inverted bails each having its extremities spaced apart and pivoted to those of the other bail and on substantially the same axis s and each bail being bent oil toward the other bail remote from the axis of such pivoting so that each bail may be made to project under the patient, and a flexible lifting member, as a strap, having a running engagement with three of the bail extremities and also engaged with the fourth extremity, as by being fastened thereto.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view showing the device in use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation;

Fig. l isa sectional view taken transverse 1y through one of the pivoting-elements; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a form oi strap attachment that may be used.

Each of the mentioned bails 1-1 consists oi a suitable length of heavy wire bent into U-shaped form and having each of its extremities also bent into a coil 2, with the axes oi such two coils alined with each other, the wire being also bent so that viewed longitudinally of said axes the U-shaped portion of the bail appears curved a), and the end of each extremity of each bail which is at the other side of its axis relatively to the curved portion of the bail, is iormed with a loop 3 which is elongated lengthwise of said axis.

The two bails when assembled stand with the concave sides of their U-shaped portions facing each other, and each two corresponding coils of the bails receiveand are free to articulate on a spool-like pivoting device 5 between the flanges thereof.

6 is a flexible member, preferably in the 1929. Serial N0.,385,94;8.

form of a fiat strap, which is engaged with the loops 3 and has a running engagement with at least three of them. In the preferred form of the invention it is in some way permanently attached toone of these loops, as 3, a as by extending the end of the strap through the loop and lapping it and stitching said end to the strap, as shown in Fig. 2. The other end of the strap may be held by the attendants hand when lifting, or it may be tied to H the strap, but prei'erably there is means for attaching-it which permits adjustment. For example, the meansshown in Fig. 5 may be used for this purpose, where '7 is a loop which traverses the strap at one side and has a cross piece 8 which traverses the strap at the other side (this device being slidable along the strap when relaxed but adapted to grip and hold its position onthe strap when the latter is taut) and 9 is a hook aiiixed to the end of the strap and adapted to be caught in the loop.

On the free end of the U-shaped portion of one bail an extension 10 may be arranged which is adjustable on such bail in the direcpivoting axis of the device, being preferably another U-shaped piece of wire having hooks 11 at its extremities bent in opposite directions around the extremities oi the tl-shaped portion of the bail. v

In using the device the attendant spreads the lower or free ends of the bails apart wide enough to admit the body o'f the patient and then forces them together so that they reach under the patient. He then passes the strap around his own neck and in some way makes fastits free end, as by tying it to the strap or utilizing the device shown in Fig. 5, in which case the loop 7 has been previously adjusted alon the strap. The attendant thus has a purchase on the load represented by the patient which makes it easy ior the attendant to move the patient or in fact actually lift him as shown in Fig. 1 for example.

If the patient is of considerable girth the extension 10 may be slid on the bail to which it is attached toward the other bail, thus closing the gap between the two bails and under the patient.

To insure greater comfort to the patient there may be a flexible stretcher 12 (Fig. 4) to span the lower ends of the bails. As this is not indispensable in all cases, it is preferably attached to thebails by having straps 13 provided with hooks 14 to engage eyes 15 on the stretcher.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. A lifting device of the class described comprising, in combination, a. pair of bails each having its extremities spaced apart and pivoted to those of the other bail all on substantially the same axis and each bail being bent off toward the other bail remote from the axis of such pivoting, and a flexible lifting member having a running engagement with three of the extremities and also engaged with the fourth extremity.

2. A lifting device of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of bails each having its extremities spaced apart and pivoted to those of the other bail all on sub stantially the same axis and each bail being bent off toward the other bail remote from the axis of such pivoting, a flexible lifting member having a running engagement with three of the extremities and also engaged with the fourth extremity and a supporting extension attached to the bent-off portion of one bail and reaching toward the other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED. SCHEIDEGGER. 

